Project 2000 - Duration Not Calculating

[RM Martell]

I am trying to create a basic schedule where I do not know the Duration of
tasks/events, but I know the start and end date, which will not change. In
the past I have been able to enter any two of the following and Project would
calculate the third: Start Date, End Date, or Duration, but for some reason
it is no longer doing it.

I am using the standard duration column, and this is a brand new file, so
there are no pre-existing constraints or links between tasks, resources or
even other tasks. I am entering the task name, then tabbing over the
Duration field and landing on the Start Date field, I enter the Start Date,
let's say 5/1/07 and then I tab to the End Date field, and enter 5/10/07.
When I move out of the End Date field, the Start Date changes to 5/10 and the
duration stays as 1 estimated day.

This just started occurring over the past few weeks, so I am sure there is a
setting I accidentally turned "on" or "off". Any suggestions?

 

[John]

I am trying to create a basic schedule where I do not know the Duration of
tasks/events, but I know the start and end date, which will not change. In
the past I have been able to enter any two of the following and Project would
calculate the third: Start Date, End Date, or Duration, but for some reason
it is no longer doing it.

I am using the standard duration column, and this is a brand new file, so
there are no pre-existing constraints or links between tasks, resources or
even other tasks. I am entering the task name, then tabbing over the
Duration field and landing on the Start Date field, I enter the Start Date,
let's say 5/1/07 and then I tab to the End Date field, and enter 5/10/07.
When I move out of the End Date field, the Start Date changes to 5/10 and the
duration stays as 1 estimated day.

This just started occurring over the past few weeks, so I am sure there is a
setting I accidentally turned "on" or "off". Any suggestions?

RM Martell,
First of all if you have fixed start and finish dates for each task, you
do not really have a schedule - you simply have a list of tasks with
dates - there is a difference.

However, to answer your question, go to Tools/Options/Schedule tab and
set the Default Task Type to "Fixed Units". Somewhere along the line it
was changed to "Fixed Duration" and that is what is causing your
"problem"

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP

 

[RM Martell]

Thanks John. I am aware that I do not have a schedule in this example but I
was trying to keep it simple as the details were not important.

I do apprechiate your help. It worked perfectly and now I will be able to
establish my milestones and build the schedule around them.

 

[John]

Thanks John. I am aware that I do not have a schedule in this example but I
was trying to keep it simple as the details were not important.

I do apprechiate your help. It worked perfectly and now I will be able to
establish my milestones and build the schedule around them.

RM Martell,
What do you mean the details aren't important! Don't you know it's all
in the detail? . . . . .

Seriously, you're welcome and thanks for the feedback.

John

 

[Steve House]

If you know as fact the start and end dates, then in fact you do know
the duration since the duration is defined as the number of calendar
working time minutes between the start and end date. If we work 8 hours
per day, 5 days per week and the task starts @8am Mon and ends @ 5pm
Fri, the duration of the task is 40 hours by definition. It sounds like
you're using duration and start and end to mean something different.
Perhaps "start" in your context is the earliest it can begin and "end"
is the deadline by which it must be completed, with the duration being
some undefined shorter time period within that window during which the
physical activity takes place. If that's what you mean be very careful
because you are using some very non-standard ways of approaching the
schedule and it can trip you up in the long run.